Bias Review Team
The Bias Review Team (BRT) helps track and respond to allegations of bias incidents in the BU community. It supports affected community members by receiving reports, offering resources, identifying trends, and educating the community. BU community members can also file formal complaints. These complaints might lead to investigations, following which the University can hold accountable those found to have violated University policies.
The BRT was created to show our commitment to a safe and supportive campus. It brings together colleagues from Community & Inclusion, the Dean of Students Office, the Equal Opportunity Office (EOO), Human Resources (HR) , Provost’s Office and Safety, Security, and Preparedness to review and track reports of behavior that may need extra attention – even if that behavior does not violate BU’s policies prohibiting discrimination or harassment. The BRT can also ask for help from other community members to provide more information or resources when needed. Additional members from different departments may join in specific situations.
All complaints or incidents related to a person’s characteristics that are protected by law – such as shared ancestry, ethnicity, race, national origin, religion, gender, age, and others – must still be reported through the University’s EOO. Once EOO receives those reports, the Bias Review Team will address those that that fall outside of EOO’s purview or when the impacted person does not participate in the EOO grievance process. The BRT’s purview includes complaints (including anonymous reports) involving protected speech, campus climate, and situations where the identity of the harassing party is unknown. Where appropriate, the BRT will implement responsive measures to alleviate a hostile environment for the impacted party.